LAMPS Collective
Report and Financial Statements Year ended: 31 March 2021 Charity No: 1162692
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LAMPS Collec�ve
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st ] March 2021.
The financial statements have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Chari�es Act 2011 and Accoun�ng and Repor�ng by Chari�es: Statement of Recommended Prac�ce applicable to chari�es preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Repor�ng Standard for Smaller En��es published on 16 July 2014.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
LAMPS Collec�ve is a Charitable Incorporated Organisa�on (CIO) which was established under a Cons�tu�on which set out the objec�ves and powers of the CIO.
LAMPS Collec�ve is currently staffed by volunteer staff members: the joint Crea�ve Directors, who advise the trustees on the produc�ons which should be mounted, a Bookkeeper, a Tours and Bookings Coordinator and a Website Manager.
Recruitment and Appointment of the Trustees
The trustees of the charity have the responsibility for managing the affairs of LAMPS Collec�ve. The Cons�tu�on of the Charity requires that there should be a minimum of three and a maximum of twelve trustees and that every trustee has to be appointed by a resolu�on passed at a properly convened mee�ng of the charity trustees. Trustees bring a variety of skills to the board, including organisa�onal, charity and financial management and a passion for the arts. The board of trustees con�nues to explore the recruitment of addi�onal trustees and will seek to make sure that the composi�on of the board is adequate to ensure the strategic development of the charity’s work and the proper oversight of its opera�ons.
Any new trustees are likely to be sought from people known to the trustees or the Execu�ve Team of the charity and will be those who can provide the necessary specialist skills and experience to ensure the proper working of the trustees and the development of LAMPS Collec�ve’s ministry. Two new trustees were appointed in the financial year ending 31[st ] March 2021.
Trustee Induc�on and Training
New Trustees are given a copy of the Cons�tu�on and a copy of the Charity Commission's booklet "The Role and Responsibility of Charity Trustees" and the role and responsibili�es of trustees are explained to them. New Trustees are expected to spend some �me with the Execu�ve Team to gain a proper understanding of the work of LAMPS Collec�ve. The need for Trustee training is kept under review and appropriate training will be undertaken as needs are iden�fied. Trustees are reminded of their responsibili�es at each mee�ng of the board.
Currently the trustees are drawn from a variety of professional and charity backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity.
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Trustees
Trustees who served during the period were:
Beryl Tillin (resigned 11 January 2021)
Marion Haynes Philip Henderson (appointed 11 January 2021) Julie Kemp-Harper Charles Milward (appointed 11 January 2021) John Rogers (resigned 31 March 2021) Tony Rogerson Alison Winder (resigned 31 March 2021)
RISK MANAGEMENT
A Risk Management review is carried out each year and records the risks iden�fied, the steps in place to mi�gate those risks and any ac�ons required to further improve risk. management.
Procedures are also in place to safeguard the health and safety of the produc�on and crea�ve teams in performance, and a prior risk assessment review is required at performance venues.
Internal financial control risks are minimised by the implementa�on of appropriate systems and procedures, including the dual authorisa�on of expenditure and payments.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
LAMPS Collec�ve is a Charitable Incorporated Organisa�on which was registered by the Charity Commission on 16[th ] July 2015.
The purpose of LAMPS Collec�ve is to advance the Chris�an faith for the benefit of the public by:
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a. The re-telling of stories for the public benefit, through high quality performances involving theatre, music, puppets, poetry and other art forms
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b. The produc�on of media resources which are of educa�onal, cultural and spiritual value to the community and based on Chris�an principles
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c. Contribu�ng to schools’ Personal, Social, Health and Economic Educa�on (PSHE) programme by providing workshops on topics such as rela�onships and other life-skills
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d. Teaching, training and encouraging schools, churches and the wider public in the art of song-wri�ng and storytelling through workshops and other media
PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT
The Trustees are mindful of their responsibili�es regarding public benefit and seek to meet these criteria in a number of different ways. Through its performances, the charity entertains, challenges and encourages people of all ages to live a life full of meaning and purpose, seeking to mo�vate and change society for the be�er.
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ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
The Coronavirus pandemic and the UK wide lock-down which began in March 2020 has had a major impact on our plans and ac�vi�es for the 2020-2021 financial year. The first casualty was our plans to tour “ The Passion ” in the lead-up to Easter 2020, which had to be cancelled. Instead, LAMPS produced “ The Passion Monologues ”, an online Easter resource for churches, featuring a selec�on of monologues from the play which were recorded in isola�on on mobile phones by the 2019 cast. We were encouraged by the 2,226 “hits” on the LAMPS website. We also received some very posi�ve comments from people who had viewed them. One person wrote “ We watched all the Passion Monologues and were very impressed, both at the innova�ve presenta�on of a familiar storyline, but also the quality of ac�ng and delivery. Very believable! ”. Another person wrote “ The Passion Narra�ves were absolutely stunning and very moving ”.
We had to cancel plans to tour revivals of both “Babs of Bethlehem” and of our one-woman show for Advent “Bread and Starlight” in the lead-up to Christmas 2020 because of the pandemic. However, we were able to film “Bread and Starlight” which we made available to churches. We provided some devo�onal material based on the play which was wri�en by one of our Co-Crea�ve Directors and offered a post-show Zoom discussion with members of the team. 13 churches subscribed to the video link of “Bread and Starlight”, and there were 368 viewings of the performance, although only two churches took up the offer of the post-show Zoom discussion. In addi�on, we recorded an audiobook of the show and have made available a CD of the performance. The song “Emmanuel” from “Bread and Starlight” was entered into the UK Song-Wri�ng Contest in the Chris�an/Faith music category and was awarded five stars and a commenda�on.
We also had to cancel plans to tour “The Passion” in the lead-up to Easter 2021. Instead, we released six of the “Passion Monologues”, which were renamed “The Passion Stories”, for online viewing and produced a devo�onal Study Guide to go along with the resource for churches, groups and individuals to use as a Lent/Easter course. There were 125 downloads of the resource, from both churches and individuals, of which 50 made a financial contribu�on to LAMPS. Although the majority of the downloads were from UK residents, we also had viewings from Australia and Bermuda.
A further casualty of the pandemic was our plan to fund-raise for and purchase a vehicle to transport sets and props when touring our shows. This has been put on hold un�l touring can re-start. We have repaid a grant which was made for this project, and we are currently holding £6,250.00 in our Deposit Account which has been given for the purchase of a suitable vehicle.
During the year we undertook a major overhaul of our website, which included work to improve accessibility. We also added Google Analy�cs, an on-line shop for supporters to download LAMPS resources and a number of new pages including one in which we publish reviews of our performances.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
As a result of the pandemic our income from performances has been reduced, as has our expenditure on actors’ fees. Our income for the 2019-2020 financial year had been unusually high because of the fund-raising ini�a�ve to purchase a van for touring purposes.
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Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, we decided not to go ahead with purchasing a van un�l the possibility of touring became more likely, and we repaid £9,000 to a grant-making trust which had provided funding for the project, which explains why our dona�on income for 2020-21 is a nega�ve figure. During the pandemic, regular donors have, on the whole, con�nued with their support of the charity. We also received some income from churches and individuals who appreciated the “Passion Monologues” and the “Bread and Starlight” online presenta�ons.
The charity con�nues to follow a reserves policy so that 10% of each unrestricted gi� is held in Reserve funds.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Specific plans for 2021/22 are being kept under review by the trustees because of the impact of the Coronavirus. However, during 2020/21 we are planning to:
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Record an audiobook of “The Passion” once the na�onal situa�on allows
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Develop a new non-seasonally specific play, with a working �tle of “Fishers”
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Tour “Bread and Starlight” live at Christmas 2021
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Re-launch our “Wheels Appeal” to purchase a vehicle to transport scenery and equipment for performances
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LAMPS Collective Receipts and payments accounts 1162692 Forthe peric# 11412020 311312021 Section A Receipts and payments funds funds Totsl fvnds tr• n•Ar461£ A1 Receipts Donations 3.X11 16,fMI 110991 19,148 LAMPS prcxlli0r Investment 1n¢ome 1,822 15,S20 Sub total 11941 34,671 A2 As8etand Itsrt leS Totalrocoipts 16.1)riii 11941 ¥671 A3 Payrnents LAMPS FKoduLlion costs Easter perforrners Bread and StarlwJht Audm) Bad and StarfYJht VKleo Website and Mafketbng offi & admmi%trthn eyw Insuran 17.138 1.020 1.217 1.217 1.213 1,213 816 816 1,456 185 165 1.098 Sub total 4.711 19,692 A4Assetand intrtstmnt purchase4 etc. {7t1 4,711 20.522 Net of rn¢eipW(paymentsJ A5 TransfFr5 bel*wn funds 1,095 iooooi .9051 14.149 A6 Cash funds lastyearend sh funds Ihis yearend 9.892 11250 22,142 7.993 10.987 62flJ 17.237 22.142